US Secretary of State to Salih: The mission of defeating ISIS is not over yet

Baghdad - INA 

The US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken stressed Today, Sunday, that the task of defeating ISIS is not over, while praising the Iraqi government's efforts to hold free and fair elections.

A statement by Blinken's office, received by the Iraqi News Agency (INA), stated that "the US Secretary of State made a phone call to the President of the Republic, Barham Salih."

"The US government's long-term commitment to a strong, stable, and prosperous Iraq," Blinken said, noting that "a long-term, deep, and multifaceted strategic partnership with Iraq is in the interest of the American people."

The minister, “emphasizing that the task of defeating ISIS is not over, but is shifting to a new phase based on better capabilities of the Iraqi security forces.”

He added that "the United States, as the leader of the international coalition to defeat ISIS and part of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) mission in Iraq, will continue to train, advise and empower Iraqi forces," praising "the Iraqi government's efforts to hold free and fair elections on October 10.".

He affirmed, "The US government's support for the election monitoring team of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) and the European Union Observation Mission."